Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi on stage, June 18, 2005, Nijmegen
Background information
Birth name	Frank Anthony Iommi
Born	February 19, 1948 (1948-02-19) (age 60) Birmingham, England
Genre(s)	Heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Guitarist, Songwriter
Instrument(s)	Guitar
Years active	1966 - present
Associated acts	Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Heaven and Hell
Website	Official website
Notable instrument(s)
Tony Iommi Signature Model SG

Frank Anthony "Tony" Iommi (born February 19, 1948, in Aston, Birmingham, England) is an English guitarist best known for his tenure in the heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Events 618 - Coronation of the Chinese governor Li Yuan as Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the new Emperor of China, initiating three centuries Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Nijmegen (ˈnɛɪmeɣən) (obsolete spellings Nijmwegen Nymegen Nieumeghen &mdash Nimwegen in local dialect and in German, Nimègue in French Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles Black Sabbath are an Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967-1968 Their music is marked by the distinctive vocal style and lead Flute work of front man Heaven and Hell is a musical collaboration featuring Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler along with former members Ronnie James Dio and The Gibson SG is a popular model of solid-bodied Electric guitar that was introduced in the early 1960s Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Aston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres Black Sabbath are an He is the only person to have remained in Black Sabbath throughout the band's entire lifespan. Iommi, bandmate Geezer Butler, and former Black Sabbath members Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice have recently finished a 2007 show World Tour under the name Heaven and Hell. Terence Michael Joseph "Geezer" Butler (born 17 July, 1949 in Aston, Birmingham, England) is the founding bassist for Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona on July 10, 1942 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA is an American heavy Vincent "Vinny" Appice (born September 13, 1959 in Brooklyn, New York) is a rock Drummer, best known for his work Heaven and Hell is a musical collaboration featuring Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler along with former members Ronnie James Dio and

Iommi's influence can still be felt in heavy metal music today as guitarists all around the world use many of the styles Iommi invented. Many of Iommi's riffs are regarded as legendary and provide a firm ground for new guitarists to get started.

Contents 1 Career 1.1 Early history 1.2 Pre-Black Sabbath 1.3 Earth & Jethro Tull 1.4 Black Sabbath 1.5 Solo career 1.6 Heaven and Hell 2 Equipment 2.1 Guitars 2.2 Amps 2.3 Effects 3 Discography 3.1 1970s 3.2 1980s 3.3 1990s 3.4 2000s 4 References 5 External links

Career

Early history

Tony Iommi picked up the guitar as a teenager, after being inspired by the likes of Hank Marvin and The Shadows. Brian Robson Rankin (born 28 October 1941) Newcastle upon Tyne, known by the Stage name Hank B The Shadows are an English instrumental and vocal Rock and roll group active from the 1950s to the 2000s He played guitar left-handed. In an industrial accident at the age of 17 on his last day of work in a sheet metal factory, he lost the tips of the middle and ring finger of his right hand. Iommi considered abandoning music, but his boss (who knew of Iommi's "night job" as a pub band guitar player) encouraged him to reconsider by playing a record by jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, who earned wide acclaim despite limited use of his fretting hand. Jean "Django" Reinhardt ( January 23, 1910 – May 16, 1953) was a Belgian Gypsy jazz Guitarist

After attempting to learn to play right-handed, Iommi strung his guitars with extra-light strings (using banjo strings, which were a lighter gauge than even the lightest guitar-strings of the time) and wore plastic covers over the two damaged fingers. The banjo is a Stringed instrument developed by enslaved Africans in the United States, adapted from several African instruments He fashioned the latter himself, by melting plastic liquid-soap bottles into a ball and then using a soldering iron to make holes into this ball, putting his fingers in while the plastic was still soft enough to be shaped. He then trimmed and sanded away the excess plastic to leave himself with two thimbles, which he then covered with leather, to provide better grip on the strings. A thimble is a protective shield worn on the finger or thumb generally worn during sewing Subsequent tips have been custom-made.

Pre-Black Sabbath

Iommi has played in several blues/rock bands, the earliest of which was The Rockin' Chevrolets between 1964 and 1965. The band had regular bookings and when they were offered work in Germany, Iommi decided to leave his factory job to take up the opportunity. Between 1966 and 1967 Iommi played in a band named The Rest. This was the first time Iommi played with old school friend and future Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward. Black Sabbath are an Bill Ward (born William Thomas Ward, May 5, 1948, Aston, Birmingham England) is the drummer for the pioneering British heavy

From January of 1968 till July 1968, Iommi was guitarist in Mythology, with Ward joining a month later in February. In May 1968, police raided the group's practice flat and found cannabis resin, which resulted in a £15 fine and a two-year conditional discharge for Iommi, Ward, Smith and Marshall. Mythology split up after a gig in Silloth on 13th July, 1968. Silloth (sometimes known as Silloth-on-Solway) is a port town in Cumbria, in the historic county of Cumberland.

In August 1968, at the same time as the breakup of Mythology, a band called Rare Breed also broke up. Rare Breed vocalist John "Ozzy" Osbourne and rhythm guitarist Terry "Geezer" Butler joined with Iommi and Ward from Mythology and also slide guitarist Jimmy Phillips and saxophonist Alan "Aker" Clarke. John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born December 3 1948) is a British singer Terence Michael Joseph "Geezer" Butler (born 17 July, 1949 in Aston, Birmingham, England) is the founding bassist for The six-piece band, now with Butler as bassist, were named the Polka Tulk Blues Company. After just two gigs (the last of which was at the Banklands Youth Club in Workington), Phillips and Clarke were dismissed from the band, which soon after shortened its name to Polka Tulk.

Earth & Jethro Tull

Iommi, Butler, Ward and Osbourne renamed their band in September 1968 to Earth. They carried on under this moniker until December 1968 when Iommi briefly departed to play in Jethro Tull. Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967-1968 Their music is marked by the distinctive vocal style and lead Flute work of front man However after only one performance (an appearance on "The Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus" in which the band mimed to "A Song For Jeffrey", whilst Ian Anderson sang live), Iommi was back with Earth once more. The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus is a film released in 1996 of a December 11, 1968 event put together by The Rolling Stones.

Tony Iommi on his working-relation with Jethro Tull vocalist Ian Anderson:

I learned quite a lot from him, I must say. Ian Scott Anderson, MBE (born 10 August 1947 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland) is a Scottish Singer I learned that you have got to work at it. You have to rehearse. When I came back and I got the band (Earth) back together, I made sure that everybody was up early in the morning and rehearsing. I used to go and pick them up. I was the only one at the time that could drive. I used to have to drive the bloody van and get them up at quarter of nine every morning; which was, believe me, early for us then. I said to them, "This is how we have got to do it because this is how Jethro Tull did it. " They had a schedule and they knew that they were going to work from this time till that time. I tried that with our band and we got into doing it. It worked. Instead of just strolling in at any hour, it made it more like we were saying, "Let’s do it!"

Black Sabbath

In August 1969, following the confusion with another group named Earth (who had minor success in England), the group renamed themselves Black Sabbath. John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born December 3 1948) is a British singer His aforementioned factory accident impacted the Black Sabbath sound later on, as Iommi detuned his guitar from E to C# (3 half-steps down), in order to ease the tension on his fingers. Guitar tunings are differing pitch arrangements of open (unfretted strings used for the Guitar. As a result, Sabbath were among the first bands to detune and resulted in the technique being a mainstay of heavy metal music. The first two Black Sabbath albums are actually in E tuning, however, as Iommi didn't start tuning down to C# until 1971's Master of Reality. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Master of Reality is the third album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 1971 Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler also tuned his instrument down to match Iommi's. Terence Michael Joseph "Geezer" Butler (born 17 July, 1949 in Aston, Birmingham, England) is the founding bassist for It may be argued that Tony Iommi was a pioneer of heavy metal riffing, due to his guitar playing on now famous tracks such as "Paranoid", "War Pigs", "Iron Man", and "Into the Void". In Music, a riff is an Ostinato figure a repeated Chord progression, pattern refrain or melodic figure, often played by the Rhythm " Paranoid " is a song by Black Sabbath that appears on the band's second album Paranoid. " War Pigs " is an Anti-war song by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath from their 1970 Album, Paranoid "Iron Man" is a song by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath from their second studio album Paranoid released in 1970 " Into the Void " is a song by Black Sabbath, released in 1971 on their album Master of Reality. Iommi combined blues-like guitar solos and dark, minor-key riffing with a revolutionary high-gain, heavily distorted tone with his use of a modified treble-boosting effect-pedal and a Gibson SG, as well as plugging his guitar into his amp's bass socket. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression The Gibson SG is a popular model of solid-bodied Electric guitar that was introduced in the early 1960s

Rob Halford, iconic vocalist for Judas Priest, when filling in for Ozzy Osbourne during an August 2004 concert in Philadelphia, introduced Tony Iommi to the audience as "The man who invented the heavy metal riff". Robert John Arthur Halford (born August 25, 1951) is an English singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in 1970 in Birmingham.

By the mid 1970s, incessant drug usage, managerial problems and constant touring had taken its toll on the band, and Ozzy Osbourne was fired in 1979. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. Osbourne was replaced with Ronnie James Dio, the vocalist for Rainbow (a band formed by former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore). Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona on July 10, 1942 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA is an American heavy Rainbow was a Hard rock and heavy metal band formed by former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore in 1975. Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertfordshire in 1968 For the rugby league footballer of the same name see Richie Blackmore (rugby league Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore (born With Dio, Black Sabbath produced Heaven and Hell, prior to replacing Bill Ward with Vinny Appice. Heaven and Hell is the ninth studio album by Black Sabbath, released in 1980 Vincent "Vinny" Appice (born September 13, 1959 in Brooklyn, New York) is a rock Drummer, best known for his work With Iommi and Geezer Butler the only original members, this line-up produced The Mob Rules. " The Mob Rules " is a song by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath from their 1981 Album, Mob Rules During the '80s and '90s Iommi rebuilt the band with many lineup changes with vocalists including Ian Gillan (formerly of Deep Purple), Glenn Hughes, Tony Martin and Ray Gillen. Ian Gillan (born 19 August, 1945 in Hounslow, London) is an English Rock music Vocalist and Songwriter Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertfordshire in 1968 Glenn Hughes (born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England on August 21, 1951) is a Bassist and Vocalist Anthony Martin Harford, (born April 19 1957) is a heavy metal vocalist best known for his work with Black Sabbath from 1987 to 1991 and After Ian Gillan departed the band in 1984, Iommi recorded his first solo album, entitled Seventh Star. Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Seventh Star is the twelfth studio album by Black Sabbath, released in 1986. The album featured Glenn Hughes (formerly of Deep Purple) on vocals, but due to label pressures, it was billed as a release by "Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi. Glenn Hughes (born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England on August 21, 1951) is a Bassist and Vocalist "

In 1992, Iommi appeared at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, playing four songs with the remaining members of Queen and other guest artists. The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness was an open-air concert held on Easter Monday, April 20 1992 at Queen were an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist Also, in the following year Iommi teamed up with fellow Black Country band Diamond Head and co-wrote the song Starcrossed (Lovers in the Night) off their 1993 Death and Progress album. The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton Diamond Head are a British heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, England. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Death and Progress is a recording by Diamond Head and was released in 1993 under Castle Music Ltd At Ozzy's 'farewell' concert at Costa Mesa in 1992, Ronnie James Dio refused to perform and abruptly left the band. Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona on July 10, 1942 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA is an American heavy As a result, Rob Halford (vocalist for Judas Priest) was recruited to perform as the vocalist for two gigs (Halford also sang at one of the dates on the 2004 Ozzfest tour, when Ozzy couldn't perform due to bronchitis). Robert John Arthur Halford (born August 25, 1951) is an English singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in 1970 in Birmingham. The show concluded with Ozzy bringing out the other members of the original Black Sabbath line-up (following the end of Osbourne's solo set) for a 4-song reunion.

Black Sabbath went on to record 2 further albums with another of their previous vocalists Tony Martin before the original line-up reunited as a touring band in 1997 (although Bill Ward was not present for the first two reunion tours, the second being due to a heart attack. Black Sabbath are an Ward was replaced by Vinny Appice. Vincent "Vinny" Appice (born September 13, 1959 in Brooklyn, New York) is a rock Drummer, best known for his work )

Solo career

In 2000, Iommi finally released his first legitimate solo album, titled Iommi. Iommi is a Heavy Metal Album by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and myriad guest musicians and vocalists including The album featured several guest vocalists that included Ian Astbury, Henry Rollins, Serj Tankian, Dave Grohl, Billy Corgan, Phil Anselmo, Peter Steele and Ozzy Osbourne. Ian Robert Astbury (born May 14, 1962 in Heswall, Cheshire) is an English rock Singer and Lyricist Henry Rollins (born February 13 1961 as Henry Lawrence Garfield) is an American singer-songwriter Spoken word Artist, Stand-up comedian, author Serj Tankian ( Armenian: Սերժ Թանգեան (born August 21, 1967 in Beirut, Lebanon and started his own software company David Eric Grohl (born January 14 1969 is an American rock musician Singer and Songwriter. William Patrick Corgan Jr (born March 17, 1967 in Elk Grove Village Illinois) is an American Singer, Songwriter, Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo (born June 30, 1968 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American Musician who is best Peter Steele (born Peter Ratajczyk on January 4 1962 in Brooklyn New York, U John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born December 3 1948) is a British singer In late 2004, Iommi's second solo album was released, entitled The 1996 DEP Sessions. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The 1996 DEP Sessions is a Tony Iommi album released in 2004 Material for this album was originally recorded in 1996 and was circulated among fans as a This album was originally recorded in 1996, but was never officially released. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) However, a copy with a drum track by Dave Holland was available as a bootleg called Eighth Star. David (Dave Holland (born on April 5, 1948 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire) is an English rock drummer best remembered from Glenn Hughes performed vocals on the album, and he furthered his collaboration with Hughes with the release of his third solo album, Fused. Glenn Hughes (born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England on August 21, 1951) is a Bassist and Vocalist The 2005 album of the guitarist of Black Sabbath. Tony Iommi retains the services of his long-time friend vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes aka "The Voice Released on July 12, 2005, John Mellencamp drummer Kenny Aronoff completed the trio on the album. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. John Mellencamp, previously known as John Cougar and then John Cougar Mellencamp, (born October 7, 1951, in Seymour Indiana) is a Kenny Aronoff (born March 7, 1953) is an American Drummer. A former member (briefly of the hard rock band Cinderella, he has also

Heaven and Hell

In October 2006 it was reported that Iommi would tour with Bill Ward, Geezer Butler and Ronnie James Dio again, but under the moniker 'Heaven and Hell'. Bill Ward (born William Thomas Ward, May 5, 1948, Aston, Birmingham England) is the drummer for the pioneering British heavy Terence Michael Joseph "Geezer" Butler (born 17 July, 1949 in Aston, Birmingham, England) is the founding bassist for Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona on July 10, 1942 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA is an American heavy Heaven and Hell is a musical collaboration featuring Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler along with former members Ronnie James Dio and Later it was announced that Ward had decided not to participate and Vinny Appice was hired as his replacement. ^[1]). Rhino Records released "The Dio Years" (under the 'Black Sabbath' moniker) album on April 3, 2007. Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The album showcased older tracks with Dio and also included three brand new songs recorded with Dio and Vinny Appice.

The band started an American tour in April 2007 with Megadeth and Machine Head as opening acts. Megadeth is an American heavy metal band led by founder front man guitarist and songwriter Dave Mustaine. Machine Head is an American metal band formed in 1992 in Oakland, California. The tour finished in November in England with the prospect of an album to follow in 2008. During this period the band's show at the New York Radio City Music Hall was released as both a DVD and CD with a vinyl release expected in the UK in 2008.

Equipment

Guitars

• Tony Iommi Signature Model SG
• John Birch / Tony Iommi Signature Model SG
• JayDee / Tony Iommi Signature Model SG

Amps

• Laney GH 100 TI Tony Iommi Signature amplifiers^[2]

Effects

• Tycobrahe Wah Pedal ^[3][4]
• Korg Rackmount Delay Model SDD1000
• Boss chorus pedal
• Korg DL8000R multi-tap delay
• Peavy Addverb III
• Boss Octave Divider
• Drawmer LX22 Compressor

Discography

1970s

• Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
• Black Sabbath - Paranoid
• Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
• Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath, Vol. 4
• Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
• Black Sabbath - Sabotage
• Black Sabbath - We Sold Our Soul For Rock 'n' Roll
• Black Sabbath - Technical Ecstasy
• Black Sabbath - Never Say Die!

1980s

• Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
• Various Artists - Heavy Metal Soundtrack
• Black Sabbath - Live At Last
• Black Sabbath - Mob Rules
• Black Sabbath - Live Evil
• Black Sabbath - Born Again
• Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi - Seventh Star
• Black Sabbath - The Eternal Idol
• Black Sabbath - Headless Cross
• Various Artists - Rock Aid Armenia

1990s

• Black Sabbath - TYR
• Black Sabbath - Dehumanizer
• Ozzy Osbourne - Live and Loud
• Black Sabbath - Cross Purposes
• Black Sabbath - Cross Purposes Live
• Black Sabbath - Forbidden
• Black Sabbath - The Sabbath Stones
• Ozzy Osbourne - The Ozzman Cometh
• Black Sabbath - Reunion

2000s

• Iommi - Iommi
• Black Sabbath - Past Lives
• Iommi with Glenn Hughes - The 1996 DEP Sessions
• Black Sabbath - Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970-1978)
• Iommi with Glenn Hughes - Fused
• Black Sabbath - The Best of Black Sabbath
• Black Sabbath - Greatest Hits 1970-1978
• Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath: The Dio Years
• Black Sabbath - Live at Hammersmith Odeon
• Heaven and Hell - Live from Radio City Music Hall
• Heaven and Hell - Heaven and Hell's first studio album

References

External links

• Official Tony Iommi web site
• 2005 Tony Iommi interview

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